Writers, activists condemn statements by Ministers and BJP on Dharmasthala case

A group of senior writers and activists from the State, under the banner of Jagruta Nagareekaru – Karnataka, have condemned statements by multiple Ministers in the Congress government and the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding the ongoing probe into alleged burials at Dharmasthala. 

“The whistleblower has made serious allegations and the State government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these claims, which we welcome. But it is distressing to see statements made by the Deputy Chief Minister, the Home Minister, and Women and Child Development Minister, which seems to be attacking the morale of the SIT,” the writers said in a statement released on Sunday. 

They further condemned the BJP rally at Dharmasthala on Sunday. “The BJP that did nothing to probe allegations that were there earlier (when it was in power), are now trying to obstruct a probe into the same and that raises suspicions. The BJP is emotionally provoking people by misleading them that the probe is targeting Dharmasthala, a pilgrimage centre, while the probe is against people who committed these alleged crimes,” the statement said. 

The signatories include K. Marulasiddappa, G. Ramakrishna, and Vijaya among others.